Taylor Swift, Why The Hate?

There will always be certain standards as to what qualifies as a certain kind of music. You wouldn't look at, for example, Nine Inch Nails and call it country, would you? To be properly called a country artist (or indeed an artist for ANY form of music) requires certain standards as to what qualifies as that form.

In Taylor Swift's case, for example, WHY call her a country singer? What is it about her music that ever sounded like country? What qualifies her, now or in the past, to be able to lay claim to being a country artist? Think about it.

Sorry for mentioning Charley Pride (didn't know there were so many haters) but let's consider, for example, Dire Straits. I might argue that their last album (On Every Street) qualifies them as a country act, since not only does it have a steel guitarist as a permanent member of the band, but also Vince Gill sings backup on it - hell, he was even invited to join permanently as well!

This discussion sounds very similar in spirit, to how some hardcore heavy metal fans attempt to define what is "metal" and what isn't.

Even more amusing is when such metalheads attempt to define what is a particular subcategory of "metal". (ie. Power metal, thrash metal, death metal, etc ....). Such never ending long arguments over nothing in the end.

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Love that transcends obstacles--parents dead-set against it, death, etc. Learning from one generation to the next, you lineage, seeing the power of love.

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On being young...friendship, drinking, water, cars, experiences that shape who you are today.

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Love that stops you from moving on. A goodbye that was never supposed to come. It's a true loss.

I don't have a high-end taste in music. I like country. But I don't like Taylor Swift and the reasons have been stated previously in this thread.

There will always be certain standards as to what qualifies as a certain kind of music. You wouldn't look at, for example, Nine Inch Nails and call it country, would you? To be properly called a country artist (or indeed an artist for ANY form of music) requires certain standards as to what qualifies as that form.

In Taylor Swift's case, for example, WHY call her a country singer? What is it about her music that ever sounded like country? What qualifies her, now or in the past, to be able to lay claim to being a country artist? Think about it.

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Well, the people who cut her checks, make her contracts, publish her albums, consider her to be a country music artist. That's really all there is to it. Most country music is in the form of ballads, and such, and often use guitars, banjos, and violins. The genre does change over time, just like any other musical genre, but even if you don't like it, she fits the bill of a country music artist.

Sorry for mentioning Charley Pride (didn't know there were so many haters) but let's consider, for example, Dire Straits. I might argue that their last album (On Every Street) qualifies them as a country act, since not only does it have a steel guitarist as a permanent member of the band, but also Vince Gill sings backup on it - hell, he was even invited to join permanently as well!

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Actually, I like Charley Pride. I was just pointing out that liking an artist doesn't mean they fit the definition of whatever "real" happens to be at the moment.

This discussion sounds very similar in spirit, to how some hardcore heavy metal fans attempt to define what is "metal" and what isn't.

Even more amusing is when such metalheads attempt to define what is a particular subcategory of "metal". (ie. Power metal, thrash metal, death metal, etc ....). Such never ending long arguments over nothing in the end.

Charley Pride? Depends upon who is listening. Sorry, my friend, but just because you think he's a legend, doesn't automatically make him the better choice, nor does it make him "real" country. Charley Pride won a CMA award back in 1994, as a "Pioneer." His last earned (by sales and popularity) award (an AMA, for a total of 3 CMAs, and 3 AMAs) was received in 1976.

And she's still selling albums, and she's still in the musical spotlight, and she's younger than when Charley Pride won his award, AND she has a long career ahead of her. You will lose your bet. I can bet you, and win, on the idea that there are people who don't consider Charley Pride "real" country. That doesn't make them right, either. You know why? Because there's no such thing as "real" country.

In Taylor Swift's case, for example, WHY call her a country singer? What is it about her music that ever sounded like country? What qualifies her, now or in the past, to be able to lay claim to being a country artist? Think about it.

In Taylor Swift's case, for example, WHY call her a country singer? What is it about her music that ever sounded like country? What qualifies her, now or in the past, to be able to lay claim to being a country artist? Think about it.

I guess it was only a matter of time...I haven't heard of anything this crazy before with her.

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Dude, that's a lot of hate. That guy needs some medication. I just don't like her music and I wish she would fade into obscurity. I don't want her to be protested against (Westboro) or to receive death threats.